#55 turns 55 today. Not really, he’s only 42 today. But it does seem like the 1991 Georgetown Graduate has been around a long time, and he started his career a little older than most NCAA Players. During his time at Georgetown he really took a while getting adjusted to the college game. He was pretty raw during his first season (when he was a sophomore), and didn’t even get that much playing time. Even though at that time he was a work in progress, because of both a language barrier and a limited basketball background, the raw ability was undeniable. Anyone who saw Mutombo during that 1989 season could tell he was going to be a defensive force at the next level, even if there was still some polishing to do.

The offense improved gradually, and the defense improved exponentially. By the time he was ready for the NBA Draft, teams were eager to draft another Hoya big man. The Denver Nuggets took him in the lottery and Mt. Mutombo was born. Who can forget the classic moment when Mutombo’s (and Reggie Williams’) Nuggets defeated the powerful Sonics of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp in the first round of the playoffs. The image of Mutombo lying on his back in the lane after the final buzzer holding onto the basketball with two hands like he had found the Holy Grail will always be a piece of NBA History. (Check out the video on NBA.com for a nice recap of the series.)

Whenever Mutombo retires from the NBA, which will probably be sometime in the next 15 seasons, it will be the end of an era. Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, and Dikembe Mutombo were the face of Hoya Centers in the NBA. All three of them were selected to the NBA All-Star Game in 1995 and 1996. Mutombo never had the offensive game of Ewing, or the athleticism of Mourning, but he is quite possibly the greatest shot blocker in the history of the game.

So if you’re out having a drink tonight, raise a toast to Dikembe. And if somebody tries to tell you that Mutombo is overrated, or that he should have retired five seasons ago. Just glare at them and wave your index finger back and forth in their face. It will be a nice tribute.